YearToAvoid

2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#3 most-complained of 7 Cooper S Clubman years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman has 11 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 67 out of 100 — #3 highest of 7 Cooper S Clubman model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (6 complaints, 55% of the total). Complaints report 3 fires.

Complaints
11
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 3
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine6 (55%)
  2. Airbags3 (27%)
  3. Electrical System1 (9%)
  4. Other1 (9%)
  5. Structure & Body1 (9%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain1 (9%)
2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman complaints: complaints filed per month2Nov 2009Jul 2010Oct 2012Jun 2013Dec 2014
13 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2009 to Jan 2026; peak May 2012 (2).

2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V248000Apr 18, 2018Engine47,806 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.

    Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

  2. NHTSA 12V008000Jan 11, 2012Engine90,368 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

    Bmw is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 mini cooper s, 2008-2011 mini cooper s clubman, 2009-2011 mini cooper s convertible, 2009-2011 mini cooper jcw, 2009-2011 mini cooper jcw clubman, 2009-2011 cooper jcw convertible, and 2011 cooper s countryman passenger cars manufactured from november 14, 2006, through january 18, 2011. The electric auxiliary water pump that cools the turbocharger has an electronic circuit board that can malfunction and overheat.

    Risk: The circuit board may smolder which could result in a vehicle fire.

    Remedy: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump free of charge. The safety recall beganduring february 2012. Owners may contact bmw at 1-866-275-6464.

2008 compared with other Cooper S Clubman years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002008200920102011201220202021
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008Caution67112—
2009Avoid100512—
2010Caution50132—

All MINI Cooper S Clubman years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman ranks #3 of 7 among Cooper S Clubman model years (Complaint Index 67/100, verdict: Caution). It has 11 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman?
The most reported problem areas are engine (6 complaints), airbags (3 complaints), and electrical system (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 53,225 miles.
Does the 2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman, most recently reported 2018, covering engine.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.